The Health Sciences Career Development Programme offers postdoctoral fellowships to outstanding Health Sciences graduates who have recently completed a degree at doctoral level.
These postdoctoral fellowships are usually available each year. In 2023 there will be twoapplication rounds, May and November.
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How to apply for a Health Sciences Māori Early Career Fellowship
These fellowships are open to people from any discipline, from those about to graduate with a PhD to people who may have already undertaken some post-doctoral work.
This application is currently closed. Next round is expected in July 2024.
Guidelines for applicants 2023
How to apply for a Health Sciences Career Development postdoctoral fellowship
There will not be a November 2023 round for these fellowships. We hope to have another round in May 2024 and this page will be updated when this has been clarified.
Historical 2023 documentation for information only:
- Read the May 2023 guidelines
- Complete the May 2023 Application Form
- Read Appendix C of this document: Terms and Conditions for Postdoctoral Fellowships
- Apply via the Dean of the School, and / or HOD, where you wish to hold the fellowship
Other postdoctoral fellowships
Health Sciences doctoral graduates can also apply for a Rutherford Foundation postdoctoral fellowship.
The Rutherford Foundation is a charitable trust set up to provide support for the spectrum of PhD education, to postdoctoral research, and early career development.
The following Rutherford Fellowships are available:
- Rutherford Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowships
- Rutherford Discovery Fellowships for outstanding mid-career researchers (less than 10 years post-PhD)
Other Postdoctoral Fellowships are available from charitable organisations such as:
- The Neurological Foundation
- The Heart Foundation
- Cancer Research Trust New Zealand (John Gavin postdoctoral fellowship, scroll down)
- HRC Career Development Awards
Please contact your Research Adviser for full details.
Flying Postdocs
Researchers describe the impact of a Health Sciences postdoctoral fellowship on their careers.
Dr Rebecca McLean: "For me it is essential that my research has the potential for real change—that it can influence policy and practice for better health outcomes."
Dr Raymond Staals: "I've always been fascinated by how things work, whether it's a TV or a molecular mechanism."
Dr Gabrielle Jenkin: "I was captivated by the BBC series 28 Up. This made me think about how much of life was pre-conditioned..."
Dr Peter Mace: "What excites me about my work is ... making new discoveries that you are the first person to know about, ever."
Associate Professor Tracy Melzer: "Imaging is amazing, it has completely revolutionised medicine."
Dr Joshua Ramsay: "I simply like problem solving and understanding living organisms."